Английский язык с У. С. Моэмом. На окраине империи. Рассказы / W. S. Maugham: Stories

"Man alive, you can't live here all your life. This is no life for a man. It's a living death. Oh, Edward, come away at once, before it's too late. I've felt that something was wrong. You're infatuated with the place, you've succumbed to evil influences, but it only requires a wrench, and when you're free from these surroundings you'll thank all the gods there be. You'll be like a dope-fiend when he's broken from his drug. You'll see then that for two years you've been breathing poisoned air. You can't imagine what a relief it will be when you fill your lungs once more with the fresh, pure air of your native country."

He spoke quickly (он говорил быстро), the words tumbling over one another in his excitement (захлебываясь словами от волнения; to tumble — упасть; идти спотыкаясь, появляться, вперемешку), and there was in his voice sincere and affectionate emotion (в голосе его было искреннее и теплое чувство; affectionate — любящий; нежный). Edward was touched (Эдвард был тронут).

"It is good of you to care so much, old friend (мило с твоей стороны так сильно заботиться обо мне, старина)."

"Come with me to-morrow, Edward (поехали со мной, завтра же, Эдвард). It was a mistake that you ever came to this place (было ошибкой, что ты вообще приехал сюда: «в это место»). This is no life for you (это неподходящая для тебя жизнь)."

"You talk of this sort of life and that (ты говоришь о том и этом образе жизни). How do you think a man gets the best out of life (а как, по-твоему, человек получает от жизни все самое лучшее)?"

"Why, I should have thought there could be no two answers to that (как, я думаю, что на этот /вопрос/ двух мнений быть не может; answer— ответ; решение /вопроса/, объяснение). By doing his duty (выполняя свой долг), by hard work (напряженно работая: «напряженной работой»), by meeting all the obligations of his state and station (выполняя все обязательства /присущие/ его общественному положению и статусу; state— состояние; общественное положение;station— место; общественное положение)."

"And what is his reward (и какова же его награда)?"

"His reward is the consciousness of having achieved what he set out to do (его награда заключается в осознании того, что он достиг поставленных задач; to set— садиться, заходить /о небесных светилах/; ставить /задачи, цели и т. п./)."

sincere [sIn'sIq], affectionate [q'fekS(q)nIt], obligation ["OblI'geIS(q)n], reward [rI'wO: d]

He spoke quickly, the words tumbling over one another in his excitement, and there was in his voice sincere and affectionate emotion. Edward was touched.

"It is good of you to care so much, old friend."

"Come with me to-morrow, Edward. It was a mistake that you ever came to this place. This is no life for you."

"You talk of this sort of life and that. How do you think a man gets the best out of life?"

"Why, I should have thought there could be no two answers to that. By doing his duty, by hard work, by meeting all the obligations of his state and station."

"And what is his reward?" "His reward is the consciousness of having achieved what he set out to do."